Rotary scrubbing-machine.



T; R. JENKINS, JR.

ROTARY SGRUBBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1912.

4 Patqnted Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 53

anew" T. R. JENKINS ROTARY SCRUBBING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnicn.

THOMAS R. JENKINS, JR., F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF "ONE -HALF '1'0' WALTER. S. FINNELL, 0F HANNIIBAL. MISSOURI, AND ONE-HALF TO JSINOLA MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

ROTARY SCRUBBING-MAOHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Application filed January 18, 1912. Serial No. 671,958.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, T OMAS E. JENKINS,

Jr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of-Marylanch'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary ScrL1bbingMacliines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary scrubbing machines and has particular reference to that class of machines wherein the scrubbing brushes are sustained from a wheeled frame and are rotated as the frame is wheeled over the surface that is to and described herein are made the subject of a companion applicatlon Serial No.-

671,959 filed January 18th 1912 and are therefore not claimed herein.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1, shows the improved brush-can rying devices in side elevation and the meeh anism for driving the same. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3, is a vertical cross-section through the same. Fig. 4-,

shows an enlarged sectional detail through the carrier ring and a side elevation of a brush attached thereto. Fig. 5, is a perspective detail of the brush-plate, and Fig. 6, an

enlarged detail plan View of a portion of the cmrier ring.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1, designates a short horizontal axle on the outer ends of which are carried suitable wheels, 2. These wheels are loosely mounted on the ends of the axle and are preferably provided with rubber tires, 3. Midway between the wheels the agrle has a circular flat hearing or seat, 4, and a central stem, 5, projects vertically from this seat. The stem, 5, sustains a circular plate, 6, which latter has a centralperforation that receives a downwardly-extending hub, 7 through which the stem projects, as will presently be more fully described so that the said hub,

7, and plate, 6, may turn on the stem. The I plate is provided with a plurality of out wardly-pro ectmg and downwardly-curved arms, 8, each of which latter has a threaded perforation,.9, in its outermost end. In the present instance the plate is provided with four arms but obviously the number may be more or less than shown. Each arm, 8, car ries a bolt, 10, which engages the-threads in the perforations, 9, and whichdepends below the said arms, for a purpose presently. to be described.- I

A ring-plate, 11, encircles-the wheels, 2, and has position in a horizontal plane below the; arms and ,said ring-plate is provided with arms, 12, that project inwardly toward the wheels from the inner circumferential edge ,of the ring plate. The inner ends of these-arms, 12, arealso provided withperforations, 13, which latter have position directlybeneath the perforations, 9, in the arms, 8, so that the lower pendant ends of the'bolts, 10, may pass freely therethrough v and thus loosely connect the ring plate with the arms, 8, of the. circular plate, 6. Suitable nuts, 14, on the lower ends of bolts, 10, prevent accidental disengagement of the ring plate but enable" the same to be disengaged when desired and springs, 40, encircle the bolts and have their upper ends seated against washers, 4.1, while their lower ends seat on the arms, 12. v

The ring plate is provided at intervals with openings, 15, and each opening has a flange, 16, which extends vertically from the upper surface of the ring plate. In the present instance there are eight openings, 15, in the ring plate, but the number is immaterial and is only determined by the number of brush sections it is desired to use, as will presently be explained.

On both sides of each opening, 15, the ringplate is provided with upwardly-pro jecting hollow hearings or casings, 17, the upper ends of which have a perforation which forms a hearing as and for a purpose presently to be explained.

Suitable webs, 18, and, 19, respectively are provided on the ring-plateand the arms thereof for the purpose of stiffening and strengthening the same.

The purpose of the ring-plate is to loosely sustain or carry the brushes and as the conr at the center while the the bottom side of the ncctions between these parts are found to be very effective in practice they will now be described in detail.

A plurality of brushes, 20, are employed and each brush has a brush block, 21., in the bottom of which the bristles are secured in any suitable manner. The brush blocks also have a central perforation, through which a bolt, 23, extends, as shown in broken lines in Fig. t, and the upper surface of each block has a cavity or recess, at opposite sides of the bolt, 28.

A brush suspension plate, 25, is interposed between the upper side of the brush block, 21, and the bottom side of the ring-plate and each plate has a central perforated boss, 26, and avertical rib, 27, at the outer side of the boss which rib extends from the top surface of the boss to the bottom edge of the plate, as clearly seen in Fig. ,5. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 5, that the suspension plate, 25, is curved from one end to the other and that said curvature conforms to the curvature of the ring plate.

At each end the suspension plate, is provided with vcrtically-projecting pins, 28, which are so spaced from the central boss that when the plate is seated against the under side of. the ring plate with the boss in the opening, 15, the pins will extend vertically through the hollow hearings or cacings, 17, on the ring-plate so their upper ends will project through the perforations at the upper ends of the casings. Cotter pins, 29, are inserted in the ends of the pins, 28, and prevent the latter from dropping downwardly and out of the casings.

It will thus be seen that the ring-plate is loosely sustained below the circular plate, 6, and is free to have vertical movement on the bolts, 10, and that the brush-suspension plates, 25, are loosely sustained from the ring-plate and are free to move vertically independently thereof. There is a t ecided advantage in this construction where floor surfaces have hollows or raised places therein because each suspension plate is capable of movement independently of all the other plates. a

By reference to Fig. 4, it will be seen that suspension plate, 25, has short projections or lugs, 30, and that the brush block is fitted up close agaihst the bottom side of the suspension plate so that the projections or lugs, 30, will enter the cavities or recesses, 24, at opposite sides of the bolt, 23, while said bolt passes up through the boss, 26, and is held therein by means of a wing nut, 81.

From the foregoing explanation it will oe understood that the nut, 31, will hold th brush block and suspension plate togeth projections, 36, will enter cavities, :24, and prevent the block from turning on the bolt. Also it wnl be noted that. the two pins, 28 on the suspension plate will prevent the letter from t\rist-- ing with respect. to the ring-plate.

By again referring to liig. i, it will be noted that. the hollow bearings creasing-s, 17, through which the pins, 28, extend each contain a. coiled spring, 32, and, that. these springs encircle the pins and are co1upressed between the upper ends of the lugs and the upper surfaces of the brush-sue pension plates, By this means a yielding downward pressure is exerted contmw ally on the plates, 25, so as to press the brushes downward in contact with the floor surface. As the brushes are fofmed in sections each section has a vertical movement independently of all the other sections and also indci'iendently of the ring plate, consequcntly slight hollows or raised places in a floor surface will receive the same scrubbing action that the level surfaces will receive.

By providing the rib, 27, on the boss, 26, lateral rocking off the suspension plate, 25, is avoided and uneven wear on the brushes reduced to a minimum, but the same time the said plates, 25, may have a. slight roclc ing motion from end to end to allow the brush to ride over any uneven spots on a floor.

A machine employing the structure above described is provided with asuitablc driving shaft, 33, on which a pinion, 34:, is mounted and this pinion meshes with and drives a. horizontal gear, 35, that is secured by bolts, 36, on top of the circular plate, 6.

The hub, 7, depends from the gear, 35, and passes through a central opening in the circular p ate, 6, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

A frame, 37, has an eye, 38, that receives the upper end of stem, 5, and a nut, 39 ecures the stem to the frame. The frame, 37,

is a part ofthe machine which forms no part of the present invention and which is substantially like that shown in a pending application, Serial Number 525,024- filed by me on the 28th day of October 1909.

Having thus described my invention what I. claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a brush carrying mechanism for scrubbing machines the combination with a ring: plate having a plurality of spaced-apart hollow casings and an opening between adjacent casings, of a plurality of brush suspension plates each having spacednpart stems which project into the said hollow casings,-said suspension. plates also having an opening therein between the stems; a brush for each suspension plate and means in the openings between the hollow casires for securing the brushes to their. suspcusuiu plates.

Q. in a brush carryi 1g mechanism for scrub lung machines the combination with a 1. il l ring plate having a plurality of spacedapart hollow casings each with an opening and also having an opening in the plate between adjacent casings, of brush suspension plates having spaced-apart stems which project into and through the "hollow casings and said suspension plates each also having a perforated boss on its upper side between the stems and each boss having a vertical rib on i0 one side; a brush secured to the boss of each of the suspension plates and the boss and rib of each suspension platefefitering one of said openings of the ring plate between the casmgs.

In testimony'whereof aflix my signature 15 in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS R. JENKINS, JR.

, Witnesses:

G. FERD. Voc'r, CHAS. B. MANN. 

